Electric steam-heating apparatus.



J. G. WALLMANN.

ELECTRIC STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOI FILED 81:21.". a, 11110.

1,023,602. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR 1 M 43 ma/MM %M J. G. WALLMANN.

ELBGTBIO STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLIOA'I'IOI nun same. a, 1910.

1,023,602, Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN G. WALLMANN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNO-B, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO WALLMANN ELECTRIC HEATER COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALI- FOBNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC STEAM-HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN G. WALL- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residin at the cit of Oakland, in the county of Alameda an State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Steam-Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric steam heating apparatus.

The object of my Invention is to provlde an electric water heater for generating steam combined with a radiator whereby the radiator may be used for heating any premises without the laying of pipes therein, which apparatus is portable so that the same may be readily carried from one part or room of a buildin to another as may be desired by the inten ing user, which moreover is safe and ra id in operation and may be constructe of any desired size for the creation of a greater or less quantity of heat.

Other advantages of said apparatus will hereinafter appear. I

My invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanyin drawing, described in the following spec' cation and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view of my electric steam generating device having the outer casing thereof cut away thereby showing certain parts therein contained, as hereina ter mentioned. Fig. 2 is a side view of the exterior of said devlce combined with a radiator.

In the figures'l represents a boiler having a cylindrical casin 2. In Fig. 1 the boiler is shown partly filed with water for the operation of the device. The boiler contains two electrodes marked res ctively 10 and 11 and in the operation 0 the device the water therein between the faces of said electrodes acts as a resistance medium for the passage of the current, and the current passes from electrode 11 by way of pin 13 over wire 17 to connecting rod or screw 19, completing the circuit.

27 indicates a cylinder which is positioned above the electrodes, the upper end thereof being closed by a cap 28 so as to prevent escape of steam. The said cylinder has a square hole at its lower end to fit square rod laminated core 26 and has its lower end secured to porcelain insulating plate 24.

The cylinder 27 is preferably brazed to brass plate 39.

Various waters differ as to their electric resistance or conductivity, some of them containing more salts or mineral matters than others so that the same are of less. resistance than waters having a higher degree of urity and consequently they would take too igh an amperage. The solenoid 23 and insu ating plate 24' are intended to regulate the currents as consumed so that there will be the same consumption although difi'erent waters are used.

When for the operation of the device the current is turned on if the water contained in boiler 1 is of high resistance insulating plate 24 will remain stationary as the amperage is not high enough to create suflicient induction in 00' 23 surrounding thecylinder 27 to raise plate 24 by laminated core 26 and rod 25. If on the other hand water of great conductivity is used on account of the less resistance the amperage rises, causing a reater induction in coil 23 which draws aminated core 26, thereb raising plate 24 through rod 25 upwardly between electrodes 10 and 11 so that less surface of plates or electrodes 10 and 11 is exposed to electrical action. The cutting down of such exposed surfaces lessens the square surface of water against the plates or sectional area, causing a greater resistance and thereby making a gp form consumption of current. The water in passl n therethrough between electrodes becomes ot and forms steam which passes out of port 4 into radiator 41 and in condensing heat therefrom passes into the room in which the ap aratus is contained and the liquid formed b such condensation flows back into the boller 1 where the operation.

of forming the same into steam again by the action of electrodes 10 and 11 is repeated. The boiler may be built proportionately of suflicient size to accommodate radiators of various dimensions. a

I will now proceed to describe a safety appliance and automatic throw off embraced in said apparatus as follows :38 is a tube leading from the boiler 1 to a spring safety valve 36 set to blow ofi at 5 pounds pressure used as a resistance and the current said valve consisting of a casing having a valve seat in its lower end and a s ring therein engaging a plug resting in sai seat as shown. 33 is a tube leading from escape end of said safety valve upwardly to cylinder 31. 35 is a piston which fits into cylinder 34 and is secured to plug 20. If the pressure of steam exceeds five pounds as the device may be adjusted the safety valve 36 as shown opens and allows the ascending steam to enter cylinder 34, causing piston 35 to be forced out, and driving plug 20 upwardly, thereby breaking the electrical connect-ion with the source of electricsupp'ly and causing the heating in the boilerthrough electric action to cease. 18 and 19 are pins which fit into seats 29 and 30 of plug 20 and 21 is a cord leading from the source 0 electric supply. 31 and 32 are porcelain washers to insulate pins 18 and 19 from the casing 2. 35 is the piston-which is secured to plug 20 by a screw as shown. The smaller tube 33 is suitably connected to the case of spring valve 36, which case at its lower end receives steam from tube 38 which is secured therein. 22 is a wire connecting pin or screw 18 to solenoid 23, and 16 is a wire connecting solenoid 23' to electrode 10. A nut on connecting pin 12 clamps wire 16 in place. Pins 12 and 13 are preferably threaded into carbon electrodes 10 and 11. 14 and 15 are porcelain insulators. The cylinder 27 is preferably brazed to plate 39. Rod 25 is square so as to kee porcelain plate 24 from turning. 17 is a wire fastened to pin 19 and to electrode 11 by nuts and bolt 13. Bolts to hold the top plate to the casing 2 are placed as shown. 39 is a plate preferably ofbrass on boiler 1 and 37 is a rubber sket. 5 indicates a waste pipe from boiler 1. 6 is a valve to waste pipe 5 and 3 is a supply pi e to boiler 1. 8 is a valve to be closed a er the boiler is filled and 40 is a funnel for the filling of said boiler. 7 is an overflow pipe fitting in and leading from funnel 40 and 9 is a waste pan for waste water. 28 is a; screw cap on cylinder 27 to close the end thereof and also to hold solenoid 23 in place. 41 is a shoulder on cylinder 27 in which solenoid 23 rests. Pipe 7 penetrates funnel 40 through its side and is secured thereto by soldering or other suitable method, the said pipe carryin ofi surplus-water and preventing overflow om top of the funnel in filling or otherwise.

To operate the apparatus the valve 8 should be opened and the boiler 1 filled with water until it oyerflows through pipe 7 from funnel 40; then the valve 8 should boturned off, and plug 20 being thereupon forced 'down so that couplings 29 and 30 fit over of wire 16 to pin 12 and to the electrode 10, electrical connection being ad with electrode 11 by means of wire .17 as shown and the current passing throu h the water between electrodes. Although m the filling of the boiler some water may escape into the radiator throu 11 pipe 4 as soonasa common level is reached the water will coinmence to rise in tube 3 until it overflows into pipe 7 to prevent the further escape whereof valve 8 is closed, after which electrical action and the evolution of steam may be permitted to commence.

I claim 1. In an electric water heater, a boiler having a casing thereon; a tube leading upwardly from said boiler into said casing, an escape valve connected to the upper end of said tube; an escape pi e leading upwardly from said valve; a cy mder of greater diameter than said escape pipe leading u wardly from said pipe; a piston in said cy inder, and a plug above said piston and operatively connected thereto, said plug hav ing current conducting means extending downwardly therein and exposed to contact for transmitting the current into said casing.

2. In an electric water heater, a boiler having a casing provided with a top plate secured thereon; a tube leading upwardly from said boiler into said casing, a valve tube; a piston in said cylinder; insulated pins projectin upwardly from said top plate; a plug a ove said piston and operatively connected thereto and having couplings engageable with said pins and wires leading to said couplings, and current conducting means leadi downwardly from said pins and into sai casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnexes.

Arman JoHNsoN, C. J. Hnonns. 

